Feeder device for combine harvesters

ABSTRACT

An improved feeder device for combine-harvesters of the type having a header and a straw-elevator for harvesting and conveying the harvested crops to crop handling components such as threshing and separating devices. A guide plate is provided between the discharge end of the straw-elevator and the intake portion of the threshing equipment for guiding the crop material from the strawelevator to the threshing equipment; said guide plate being hinged to a fixed portion of the machine and supported by supporting means, which themselves are kinematically interconnected, so that, on the entrance of a stone or other foreign object towards the threshing equipment, said supporting means are automatically and simultaneously displaced by the stone or other foreign object beating on said plate so as to enable the guide plate to hinge to a position whereby a stone retarder or stone trap is formed.

[451 Mar. 14,1972

Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Attorney-Joseph A. Brown, John C.Thompson, James J. Kennedy and George C. Bower [57] ABSTRACT An improvedfeeder device for combine-harvesters of the type having a header and astraw-elevator for harvesting and conveying the harvested crops tovcrophandling components such as threshing and separating devices. A. guideplate is provided between the discharge end of the straw-elevator andthe in- Unlted States Patent De Coene [54] FEEDER DEVICE FOR COMBINEHARVESTERS [72] Inventor: Frans J. De Coene, Zedelgem, Belgium [73]Assignee: Clayson N.V., Zedelgem, Belgium [22] Filed: July 29, 1970 [2]]Appl. No.: 59,263

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data P eea nn m mflf m m mns wmm mmhmww mw m n m w mmflw mm mdmw Mm e ee. $6. m mg-w m m hqom I mmmk m mmon w m m m n r. .m m en m u s \Q m kmhmm pa .m F In, t .mi w U W I u...o mme m qm ms e0 m wb D wd mws e 2 .m e ut .m r l m w em m ww mn m hflr. Pnmw .D m mm uoi a l n cen mn C m wd an ae ePe 0 nm fi .OID. 1%0 1fem "G 3 mld fi mSty m. w u m.m m me y w mmm mmmmmm tmmmmumoww am Hu nn7 wm uw mu 4s w mm 1] n no. mm "A2 "U mmR m m 7 m NH S m "0 m m n-N E mm T K m N M A m u m v P W mm m H m mm m m T w e 66 W. S rb BB m u m DKOm.m E Wu u 00 @0 W W N56 97 19 m" NH 11 81 0 m6 mm 11 ma M u 1] 1 89 2 86 I lULM. U. 22

Patented March 14, 1972 3,648,709

6 Sheets-Sheet l Patented March 14, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented March14, 1972 3,648,709

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented March 14, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented March14, 1972 3,648,709

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented March 14,, 11;?

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FEEDER DEVICE FOR COMBINE HARVESTERS FIELD OF THEINVENTION The invention relates to the field of agricultural machines,more especially crop handling machines such as combine-harvesters havinga frame work for supporting the crop handling components and beingsupported by two front drive wheels and two rear steering wheels, ifthese machines are of the selfpropelled type, or two supporting wheelsif these machines are of the pull-type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Combines generally have a header and astraw-elevator in front for harvesting crops and conveying said cropsrearwardly to the crop handling devices. Said crop handling devicesmainly comprise a threshing cylinder and a threshing concave forthreshing the crop material, a separator device for separating theremainder of grains from the crop material and cleaning devices forcleaning the threshed and separated grain.

It is known in the art that it is necessary in most cases to protect thethreshing mechanism against the entrance of stones and other foreignobjects which can be conveyed together with the crop towards thethreshing mechanism, because these stones and the like can seriouslydamage this threshing mechanism when they interfere with the cylinderand concave.

In order to prevent this, a so called stone trap is applied, as it isknown in the art, between the discharge end of the strawelevator and theinput side of the threshing equipment. This stone trap gathers thestones and other foreign objects before they are supplied to thethreshing equipment, so that they cannot cause any damage to thethreshing equipment.

However the application of such a stone trap has the great disadvantagethat the supply of the crop towards the threshing mechanism is braked sothat the total capacity of the combine harvester is unfavorablyinfluenced.

It is also known that the present evolution in combine constructionmainly consists in the fact that one wants to continuously increase thecapacity of the combine by trying to obtain the maximum output of theconstruction without modifying the generally known basic principles ofthe combine.

Attempts have already been made for omitting the above describeddisadvantage so as to increase the total capacity of the combine.However these attempts have not been successful as still otherdisadvantages originated in the proposed constructions.

A first attempt was made by providing a concave of which the front part,in case it is necessary, can be replaced by a stone trap, by which sucha mechanism is provided either with a stone trap and a short concave, orwith a normal concave without a stone trap. This execution however, hasstill the same disadvantage when the stone trap is used because theaforesaid discontinuity remains between the straw-elevator discharge endand the concave.

Another attempt resides in the construction of a concave in such amanner that, when a stone or the like is conveyed onto the concave, theconcave is completely or partly turned away in order to allow the stoneor the like to fall down. The disadvantage of this is, however, that,once the concave is turned, harvesting is no longer possible as the cropis also discharged out of the threshing equipment without beingthreshed. It is therefore necessary to stop the machine each time astone or the like has been conveyed onto the concave replace to theconcave into its threshing position. Further, such a construction israther complicated, as such a concave is normally adjustably in heightfor adapting the threshing equipment to the kind of crops to bethreshed.

Another attempt has been made by providing a hinged plate between thestraw-elevator discharge end and the threshing equipment. Said plate isheld in a guiding position by resilient means such as springs. When astone is supplied said plate is hinged downwardly to discharge the stoneand is immediately brought back to its guiding position under influenceof said springs. This execution has however the disadvantage that theguiding plate is not positively supported and thus will start to vibrateunder influence of the continuously changing load of crops being guidedover this plate. As this plate is vibrating straw will be stickedbetween the vibrating portion and the neighboring fixed portion, whichis normally the front edge of the concave. This will after a certaintime result in a clogging of material and a blocking of the threshingdrum.

Moreover the stones which are discharged in this way are accompanied byunthreshed crop material. If all this is supplied to the grain pan, thenthe cleaning device will become overloaded. If all this is discharged tothe ground then unthreshed material is lost.

Another attempt has been made by providing a hinged guiding plate to thedischarge end of the straw-elevator, which is positively supported inits guiding position by latch means which are under influence of springsand which hold said means in their latching position and which aredisplaced opposite to the spring force on the entrance of a stone.

This execution has the disadvantage, that, when a stone is suppliedtowards the threshing device close to one side of said guiding plate,only the latch located underneath this side is displaced, while theother one remains in its latching position. This results in adeformation of the guide plate which gets jammed between the side wallsof the machine, while the stone is still supplied to the threshingequipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in an improvedfeeder mechanism for combine-harvesters so as to obtain the maximumoutput of the combine construction by using a positively supportedguiding element in front of the threshing equipment so as to avoid anydiscontinuity in the crop supply and which plate is automatically hingedaway when a stone is supplied towards the threshing equipment forpreventing the stone from entering the threshing equipment and havingnone of the disadvantages of the known systems. The improved feederdevice mainly comprises for these purposes a hinged guiding plateprovided in front of the threshing equipment and being positivelysupported by supporting members, which themselves are kinematicallyinterconnected so as to be simultaneously displaced when a stone issupplied towards the threshing equipment. This simultaneous displacementof the supporting members enables the guide plate to immediately hingedownwards so as to form or open a conventional stone trap whichautomatically gathers the stones.

The latching mechanism may further include a mechanism which positivelyassists the latching of the guiding element under normal conditions andpositively assists the unlocking when a stone is encountered.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof two examples of the invention, when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims:

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal-sectional view of the threshingmechanism of a combine harvester together with the parts thereof, whichdirectly cooperate with said threshing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to this of FIG. I but with the subject of theinvention in another characteristic position.

FIG. 3 is a schematical cross sectional view taken on the line III-IIIof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4i is a view similar to FIG. I but for a modified execution.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view l on a larger scale of the partindicated with F5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to this of FIG. 5 but with the subject of theinvention in another characteristic position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-VII in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale of the part indicatedby F8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but with the subject of the inventionin another characteristic position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken on the line XX inFIG. 7.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken on lines XIXI and XllXll inFIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT IN FIGS. 1-3

In FIGS. 1 to 3, a guide plate 3 is installed according to the inventionbetween the straw elevator 1 and the concave 2, while a beater 5 ismounted above the guide plate 3 and between the elevator 1 and thecylinder 4, the beater facilitating the movement of crop material fromthe elevator toward the cylinder.

The guide plate 3 is hinged at one longitudinal side around the shaft 6and is preferably provided at the other longitudinal side with a flange7 which is applied against a plate 8 having a cylindrical surface thecenter line of which is situated in the axis or center line of theaforesaid shaft 6.

The extreme ends of this guide plate 3 are also provided with flanges,respectively 9 and 10 in which holes are applied according to thepresent execution, respectively 1 1 and 12.

The plate 3 is suspended on triangular or round extensions l3, 14 oflevers 15, 16, the extensions projecting into holes 11, 12. Thesepivoting levers 15 and 16 are kinematically connected with each other,via rods, respectively 17, 18 and 19 by which rod 18 is hinged on afixed shaft 20. Each pivoting lever 15 and 16 is connected by a tensionspring, respectively 21 and 22, with a fixed part of the machine, thesprings pulling the extensions 13 and 14 towards the holes 1 1, 12.

The guide plate 3 is preferably connected with a rod 23 which extends tothe driver's seat with its other extreme end. A bracket 24 is fixed onrod 23 and cooperates with a stop block 25 which is schematically edgeThis rod 23 preferably passes through an unshown opening or groove whichis in the steering platform. In the normal threshing position the abutment or bracket 24 on rod 23 is disposed above stop block 25 in themanner shown in FIG. 1. When a stone forces the plate 3 down to theposition shown in FIG. 2 the bracket 24 will contact 25. To clear stonesfrom the trap the rod 23 is turned in such a manner that bracket 24 canpass below stop 25, and the rod 23 is then pushed downwardly to swingthe rear wdge of plate 3 below the bottom of plate 8 thereby forming anopening through which any trapped stone may pass.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT IN FIGS. 4-12 In the executioncorresponding to FIG. 4 to 12 a modification is shown, which alsoincludes a guide plate, which when a stone or other hard object is fedto the threshing equipment, automatically and completely hinges to astone trap position and by which said guide plate is also hinged andsupported at two points, which, at the moment a stone or such like issupplied, simultaneously are displaced, independently from the placewhere the stone hits the guide plate.

In this execution the mentioned supports are interconnected via anequipment which normally ensures the latching of the guide plate andwhich also, when a stone or the like is supplied, assists the unlockingof the guide plate.

Also with this execution it is possible to continue to harvest when theguide plate is hinged downwards as at this moment a conventional stonetrap is formed.

This execution has, apart from the advantages of the execution asdescribed above, still a further advantage which resides in the factthat the unlocking is controlled.

The guide plate 3 of this execution mainly comprises a proper guidingsurface 26 which is hinged at the input side to a fixed guide plate 27and which is at the discharge side of the crop proximate to the frontedge of the threshing concave 2. Plate 26 is hinged to shaft 28 on theone side and is provided with a rear wall 29 on the other side which isparallel to the neighboring front edge of the concave 2.

The rear wall 29 is further provided with a flange 30 under which a seal31 is provided by means of a holddown strip 32 vided with a sealing 39.

Another fixed plate 40 is secured to the extension 38, while underneathand in front of the concave 2 still another fixed plate 41 is secured.Said plate 41 supports a shaft 42 to which a cover 43 is hinged. Coverplate 44 of said cover 43 is provided with a bent over edge 45 which cancooperate with one or more latches 46 and by which said latches are eachconnected to said plate 40 via a bolt 47 and a spring 48, which alwaysurges the latches to the latching position. For opening the cover 43 thelatches should be turned around bolts 47.

Preferably the lower edges of the plates 34 and 35 are provided withinner flanges to which also sealings 31 are secured and which abutagainst walls 36 and 37.

Said sidewalls 36,37, guide plates 26,27,38, plates 29,40, 41 and plate44 of the cover 43 form a closed space.

Underneath plate 41 a sealing 49 is provided, which reaches the grainpan and prevents grains from being lost.

The latching, respectively the unlocking equipment of the guide plate 26is best shown in FIG. 7 to 12.

This equipment mainly comprises a stud 50 secured to the inner wall ofplate 29 of the guide plate 3, on which a lever 51 is pivotinglysupported. Said lever 51 is pivotingly connected via spindles 59,53 torods respectively 54,55, which rods at their other free end, arepivotingly connected to levers respectively 58 and 59 via spindles 56and 57. Said levers 58 and 59 are each of them pivotingly supportedviastuds 60 and 61 to the plate 29.

A pin 69 is secured to each lever 58 and 59 which is provided with aconical end 63 which extends through aperture 64 in the respective walls34-35 and an aperture 65 in the respective walls 36-37, by which saidpins 62 are supported via their conical ends 63 in the conical recess 66of for example bolts 67 which themselves are axially movable withrespect to a nut 68 which itself is welded to each of the sidewalls36-37. In order to fix bolt 67 with respect to nut 68, after said bolthas been adjusted, a check nut 69 is provided.

Said lever 51 is provided with a handle 70, which in turn supports aslat 72 via a spindle 71. Said slat 72 is connected at its other freeend to a tension spring 73, which itself is connected at its other freeend to a screwed rod 74, which is connected to a support 75 provided onthe flange 30 of the guide plate 3. Said tension spring 73, moreespecially the point 71 and the connection point between the parts 74and 75, are arranged in such a manner that, in the latched positionspring 73 assists the latching.

Indeed, as it is seen in FIG. 8 the center line 76 of spring 73 is abovethe center 77 of the stud 50 when the guide plate is latched. Thisresults in the fact that the lever 51 under influence of spring 73constantly tends to move the rods 54 and 55 away from each other. Inother words the pins 62 are constantly urged into the respectiverecesses 66 so as to support the guide plate in the guiding position.

OPERATION The use and the function of this mechanism as shown in FIG.1-2-3 is very simple and as follows:

When starting to thresh, the mechanism is in the position as representedin FIG. 1, in other words guide plate 3 forms a perfect guidance for thecrop from elevator 1 towards the threshing mechanism 2,4. In thisposition, guide plate 3 is supported on the one hand by shaft 6, and onthe other hand, by the extensions 13 and 14 of levers l5 and 16.

When a stone or another foreign object is conveyed through the elevatorl, this stone or the likewill be flung downwards either by beater 5 orcylinder 4 onto guide plate 3. In response to this impact on the guideplate there will be a certain force via holes 1111 and 12 on extension13-14. When this force is sufficient with respect to the pulling forceof the aforesaid springs 2ll-22, holes 11 and 12 will slide over theextensions 13 and 14. At this moment, guide plate 3 will rotatedownwards around shaft 6.

This position is shown in FIG. 2, by which it is obvious that in thisposition through the cooperation of the guide plate 3 on the one handand the bent plate 8 on the other hand, a stone trap is formed. It isclear that this stone trap is only formed at the moment that the firststone is supplied, so that up to this moment the threshing mechanismoperates with a maximum of output, because there is no discontinuitywhich obstructs the good supplying of crop.

When the stone trap is formed in this way, one can go on threshing andextension 24 of rod 23 abuts on stop block 25 in order to prevent theguide plate 3 from falling on down.

The aforesaid connection 17, 118, 19 between levers l5 and 16 is appliedin order to insure that levers l5 and 116 are displaced at the samemoment. Indeed, it can happen that when the levers are not kinematicallyconnected with each other, and a stone interferes with guide plate 3 forexample at the side of lever 115, only lever would be displaced by whichplate 3 could be deformed and interfere between its guides.

In order to remove the stones or stone, it sufiices to turn theaforesaid rod 23 so that extension 24 can pass below the aforesaid stopblock 25, and by which guide plate 3 can continue to rotate around shaft6 up to the moment that the aforesaid flange 7 has passed the lowerextreme end of plate 8. At this moment, a clearance is formed throughwhich the stones or stone can fall.

Further, preferably one will bring plate 3, in the position asrepresented in FIG. l, by simply rotating this plate upwards via theaforesaid rod 23, up to the moment that the aforesaid extensions 13 andI4 penetrate in the holes 11 and 12 of plate 3.

As a matter of fact, the aforesaid extensions 113 and 114 will bedetermined in shape and dimension with respect to the weight of theguiding plate and the pressure normally urged on said plate by the cropsupplied over said plate 3 on the one hand and the force which isexercised by a relatively small stone on plate 3 when it is flung onthis plate via the heater 5 or cylinder 4 on the other hand.

The use and function of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 4 to 12, which isbasically the same as above, is as follows:

The mechanism with the guide plate 3 forms a perfect guidance for thecrop when it is in the position as shown in FIG. 4 and 5.

When a stone or the like is fed toward the threshing equipment, saidstone or the like will be flung towards or pressed upon the guidingelement 3 by the beater 5 or the cylinder 4 by which, independently ofwhere said stone or the like hits surface 26, the construction 26,29,30,34,35 together with the equipment which ensures the latching, isdisplaced over a small distance. As a result thereof both pins 62 aredisplaced simultaneously over an equal distance out of the recesses 66.

Indeed, at the beginning of the downwards movement of the equipment 3,the spring 73 resists against this displacement for a certain extent,which is very advantageous as under normal conditions. The crop alsopresses on the guide plate 26 while the guide plate 26 should not hingedownwards under this pressure. Said pressing of the crop on the guideplate is considerably less as if there would be supplied a stone.

When, however, said stone is hit on the guide plate 26 then theconstruction 26,29,3tl,34,35 will be displaced downwards over such anextent, that by the movement of both pins 62 towards each other, therods 54 and 55 will urge the lever 51 to turn. This also makes thehandle 70 turn over the same angle by which point 71 is displaceddownwards with respect to the flange 36, which results in the fact thatline 76 reaches below the center 77 at a certain moment. From thismoment on spring 73 assists the unlocking of the equipment, while underinfluence of this spring the pins are completely removed from therecesses 66 by which the guiding plate 3 hinges freely downwards aroundsaid shaft 23.

At the moment the guiding plate 3 is completely hinged downwards, seemore especially FIG. 5, a stone trap is formed by the plates 40-411 andthe cover 4. It is thus possible to continue to harvest and thresh atthis moment, by which the stones which are supplied to the threshingequipment are automatically gathered in the so formed trap 40,4l,43,44.

For cleaning said stone-trap it is sufficient to turn the latches 46 andto open the cover 43. At this moment it is possible to bring the guideplate 3 in its initial position by hinging said plate upwards by handand to turn handle 70 until the center line of the spring 73 is againpositioned above the center 77 and until the pins 62 again cooperatewith the holes 66 so that the guide plate 3 is again latched in itsguiding position:

The above described both execution of the invention ensure an excellentfeeding of the crop towards the threshing mechanism, respectively amaximum output of the combine harvester as there are no obstacles whichobstruct the fluent supply of crop to the threshing device. At the sametime a perfect protection against damages to the threshing device bystones or the like is ensured as the guide plate 3 will automaticallyhinge downwards so as to form or the open a stone strap when a stone issupplied so as to trap said stone.

Another advantage is that the total surface of the concave remainsunchanged independent from the fact whether there is a stone trap ornot.

Another advantage is that, even when said guide plate 3 is hingeddownwards, it is still possible to continue to harvest.

Another advantage is that during operation, even after a stone hasentered no straw is sticked between certain elements and no clogging canthus occur by this reason.

Still another advantage resides in the fact that at any time a stone issupplied and independent from the location where said stone passes overguiding plate, said guiding plate will positively be unlocked as thesupporting means are kinematically interconnected and thus bothsupporting elements will simultaneously and over equal distances bedisplaced.

Still another advantage resides in the fact that the so formed stonetrap can easily be cleaned from the steering platform if the firstexecution is applied.

Still another advantage resides in the fact that the latching andsupporting means are positively held in their latching position whenonly crops are supplied to the threshing device and that said latchingand supporting means are positively assisted in moving to theirunlatched position when a stone is supplied. This advantage is onlyembodied in the second preferred execution.

MODIFICATIONS Other features and advantages of the present inventionwill occur to those skilled in the art, as will many modifications andalterations in the preferred embodiments of the invention describedherein, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spiritand scope of the invention.

It will for instance be understood that good results may be obtainedwith the guiding plate as described above provided at any place in thebottom wall of the straw-elevator, underneath the straw-elevator-chain.

It will further be understood that the mechanism as described withrespect to the second preferred embodiment may be provided with similarmeans as in the first execution for cleaning the stone trap from thesteering platform. These means should in this case comprise for instancea control means for controlling the position of the cover plate and acontrol means by which it is possible to hinge the guide plate upwardsand another or combined control means for displacing the supporting pinsto their latching position.

I claim:

1. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means andcrop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide platemeans disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshingmeans, spaced apart releasable support means supporting said guide platemeans in an upper guiding position, said support means being responsiveto the application of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guidemeans to release said guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stonetrap position, and means operatively interconnecting said support meanscausing substantially simultaneous release of said support means uponthe application of a sudden specific pressure.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the support meansincludes moveable means to each side of the hinged guide plate means,said means operatively interconnecting being link means.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which the link means includesfirst and second links, one end of each of the links beinginterconnecting with an associated moveable means and the other end ofeach of the links being interconnected with each other by pivoted link.

4. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means andcrop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide platemeans disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshingmeans, pivot means to the rear of the crop feeding means and hingedlysupporting the forward end of the guide plate means, a curved guideplate situated to the rear of the hinged guide plate means and having asurface adjacent the hinged guide plate which is equidistant from thecenter line of the pivot means and releasable support means to supportsaid guide plate means in an upper guiding position, said support meansbeing responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure orforce upon the guide plate means to release said guide plate means topermit it to swing to a lower stone trap position.

5. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means andcrop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide platemeans disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshingmeans, releasable support means to support said guide means in an upperguiding position, said support means being responsive to the applicationof a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide means to releasesaid guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trap positionand abutment means hold the guide plate means in the lower stone trapposition, said abutment means being operable upon manual actuation toswing the guide plate means to a still lower position to permit anystones trapped within the stone trap to be discharged.

6. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means andcrop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide platemeans disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshingmeans and releasable support means to support said guide means in anupper guiding position, said support means being responsive to theapplication of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide meansto release said guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trapposition, and retaining means disposed below the hinged guide platemeans, said retaining means being moveable between a first positionwherein it retains stones within the stone trap and a second positionwhich permits the discharge of the stones from the stone trap.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said moveable meansengaging each side of the hinged plate means are levers hinged at oneend on the framework and have resilient means connecting the other endof each lever to the framework for urging the levers into engagingposition with respect to said hinged plate means.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said link meansincludes resilient overcenter means to positively hold the moveablemeans in supporting position when the 'guide plate means are in operableposition and to positively assist releasing of said support means afterinitial swinging movement to a lower stone trap position, responsive tosaid sudden specific pressure or force.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sup-- port meansare mounted on said guide plate means and engage associated elements onthe framework to support said guide means in an upper guiding position,the support means being simultaneously releasable responsive to theapplication of a sudden specific pressure force upon the guide means topermit the guide means to swing to a lower stone trap position, thesupport means including moveable means engageable with said elements,and said means operatively interconnecting including a pivoted link andfirst and second links, one end of each of the first and second linksbeing interconnected with an associated moveable means and the other endof each of the first and second links being interconnected with eachother by the pivoted link, said pivoted link being pivoted on said guideplate means.

10. The combination as set .forth in claim 1 in which a feeder beater isrotatably provided approximately above said guide plate means and infront of said threshing means for feeding the crop material to saidthreshing means and for flinging foreign objects upon the guide platemeans for applying said sudden specific pressure or force upon saidguide plate means.

1. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means and crop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide plate means disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshing means, spaced apart releasable support means supporting said guide plate means in an upper guiding position, said support means being responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide means to release said guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trap position, and means operatively interconnecting said support means causing substantially simultaneous release of said support means upon the application of a sudden specific pressure.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the support means includes moveable means to each side of the hinged guide plate means, said means operatively interconnecting being link means.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which the link means includes first and second links, one end of each of the links being interconnecting with an associated moveable means and the other end of each of the links being interconnected with each other by pivoted link.
 4. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means and crop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide plate means disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshing means, pivot means to the rear of the crop feeding means and hingedly supporting the forward end of the guide plate means, a curved guide plate situated to the rear of the hinged guide plate means and having a surface adjacent the hinged guide plate which is equidistant from the center line of the pivot means and releasable support means to support said guide plate means in an upper guiding position, said support means being responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide plate means to release said guide plate means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trap position.
 5. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means and crop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide plate means disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshing means, releasable support means to support said guide means in an upper guiding position, said support means being responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide means tO release said guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trap position and abutment means hold the guide plate means in the lower stone trap position, said abutment means being operable upon manual actuation to swing the guide plate means to a still lower position to permit any stones trapped within the stone trap to be discharged.
 6. In combination with a crop harvester having crop feeding means and crop threshing means, the combination therewith of hinged guide plate means disposed between the crop feeding means and the crop threshing means and releasable support means to support said guide means in an upper guiding position, said support means being responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure or force upon the guide means to release said guide means to permit it to swing to a lower stone trap position, and retaining means disposed below the hinged guide plate means, said retaining means being moveable between a first position wherein it retains stones within the stone trap and a second position which permits the discharge of the stones from the stone trap.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said moveable means engaging each side of the hinged plate means are levers hinged at one end on the framework and have resilient means connecting the other end of each lever to the framework for urging the levers into engaging position with respect to said hinged plate means.
 8. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said link means includes resilient overcenter means to positively hold the moveable means in supporting position when the guide plate means are in operable position and to positively assist releasing of said support means after initial swinging movement to a lower stone trap position, responsive to said sudden specific pressure or force.
 9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means are mounted on said guide plate means and engage associated elements on the framework to support said guide means in an upper guiding position, the support means being simultaneously releasable responsive to the application of a sudden specific pressure force upon the guide means to permit the guide means to swing to a lower stone trap position, the support means including moveable means engageable with said elements, and said means operatively interconnecting including a pivoted link and first and second links, one end of each of the first and second links being interconnected with an associated moveable means and the other end of each of the first and second links being interconnected with each other by the pivoted link, said pivoted link being pivoted on said guide plate means.
 10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which a feeder beater is rotatably provided approximately above said guide plate means and in front of said threshing means for feeding the crop material to said threshing means and for flinging foreign objects upon the guide plate means for applying said sudden specific pressure or force upon said guide plate means. 